East Himalayas

Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan at a glance

Shantiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata. It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town (Visva-Bharati University) that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath Tagore wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance.

Air

The closest airport is at Kolkata (about 190 km from Bolpur Shantiniketan and a four and half hour drive) and is connected by air with all the Metros in the country.
Rail

Train services to Bolpur Shantiniketan are available from Kolkata, Howrah, New Jalpaiguri, Gaya, Bangalore, Guwahati, etc.
Road

There is frequent bus service to Bolpur from Dharmatala bus stand of Kolkata and Burdwan. It is almost a 5 hour journey from Kolkata. You can hire a car from towns across West Bengal such as Midnapore, Bankura, Asansol, Bardhaman, Howrah, to reach Bolpur.

Uttarayan Complex

The poet lived and worked in the Northern Complex consisting of several buildings as : Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi. The Bichitra (Rabindra Bhavan) designed by the poet's son Rathindranath Tagore.
Chhatimtala

Here Maharshi Devendranath, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, used to meditate. Prayers are held usually at Convocation time. Successful graduates of the Vishwa Bharati University are presented a branch of five leaves each from the Saptaparni trees which abound in the area.
Cheena Bhavan

As the name suggests, Cheena Bhavan is the Study centre for China, mainly aimed at fostering India - China relation and is located at Santhiniketan. This promotes the liaison between India and China. The main aim of this study centre is the development of Indo-Sino relations and the cultural relations. This Bhavana offers many research facilities and studies on Chinese culture and societal relations. This place was regularly visited by Chinese scholars to offer their knowledge base to the students in Visva Bharathi.
Rabindra Bhavan

Tagore memorial museum or Rabindra Bhavana is established in 1942 at Santhiniketan and is a place reverberating with the memory of the famous poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. This Bhavana displays the personal collections of Rabindranath Tagore and also the gifts presented to him from India and abroad.

A library and a general section with spectacular collection of paintings, letters written by celebrities and manuscripts are enclosed in this centre. Tagore’s photographs depicting his lifestyles and voice records are also displayed here. Entry is free of cost.

Entry Timings 7am to 11 am during summer and 10.30 am to 4.30pm during winter (Tuesdays 10.30 am to 1pm), Wednesday closed holiday.
Amar Kutir

Amar Kutir - meaning my home - in Bengali which is a cooperative unit, was established as a place of refuge and self-sustenance for the fugitives who fought for Indian Independence and were either wanted by the British jailors or were unwanted by their respective families. Amar Kutir is located 15 kilometres from Shantiniketan on the banks of River Kopai in the Birbhum District in West Bengal State.
Kankalitala Temple

One of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas of the country is the Kankalitala Temple which is located about 8 kilometres northeast of Shantiniketan town in Bolpur sub-division of Birbhum District of West Bengal State. Kankalitala Temple is located in Kankalitala town on the banks of River Kopai.
Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Also known as the Deer Sanctuary, Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary is 3 kilometres northwest of the Visva Bharathi University in Shantiniketan. The Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary houses almost all types of Deers such as the black buck and spotted deer, foxes and jackals as well as a huge flock of migratory water birds - more than 6000 in number.
Visva Bharathi University

Initially established as place for conducting experiments in education and setting up a new and alternate mode of educating as opposed to the Western style of pre-defined education, is the Visva Bharathi established in 1863 - currently a Central University in a small town of Birbhum District - Shantiniketan. A massive open-air campus with countless back-to-back large and old trees causing large patches of cool shade is the first description anyone who visited would give to the Visva Bharati University Campus. Tourists are allowed to tour the Visva Bharathi premises during the visiting hours which is a two-hour window per day. The best time to visit the Visva Bharati University campus when the whole campus community is in its full-elements is during Rabindra Janmotsav & Poush Mela.
Sriniketan

In 1992, Sriniketan, a centre for rural reconstruction was established in Santiniketan. Sriniketan also has a department devoted to the studies of the socio-economic problems of India. This centre focuses on education related to agriculture, handicrafts, cottage industries, welfare of villages and adult education.

Visitors can also look at the tribal handicrafts, goods made in traditional ways like pottery, batik on cloth, leather and silk and materials required for weaving.
Vidya Bhavan

In 1925, Rabindranath Tagore founded Vidya Bhavan, which is the study centre for the social sciences and humanities. It is situated in Santiniketan’s Viswa Bharati University complex. Here regular graduate and undergraduate courses are offered.
Kala Bhavan

In 1919, Rabindranath Tagore established Kala Bhavan, the centre for study and research in visual arts in India, in the complex of Viswa Bharati University.
Upasana Bhavan

Upasana Griha is a prayer hall made of several Belgium colored glasses. It has steps of marble on all the four sides. During evenings, candles are lit throughout the prayer hall and it is resplendent in light.